Kagawa hoping to impress Moyes with Japan performance

Japan midfielder keen to force his way back into Reds team with strong performance for his country.

Shinji Kagawa is hoping to persuade Manchester United manager David Moyes to give him more games by impressing for Japan this week.

Kagawa has figured only once for United since Juan Mata’s arrival from Chelsea for a club record £37.1m in January.

He came on as a second-half substitute during the defeat to Olympiacos last week, a game Mata was unavailable for because he was cup-tied.

Kagawa has fallen behind Mata and youngster Adnan Januzaj at United and has started in the Premier League just seven times this season.

The 24-year-old, who has been linked with a summer move back to former club Borussia Dortmund, has been named in the Japan squad for the friendly with New Zealand on Wednesday and he’s hoping an impressive performance for his country can help force his way into United’s first-team.

Kagawa said: “Of course it is important for a player to continue getting games, but there is not much I can do about my situation.

“It is something that I won’t be able to gain unless I am delivering results.

“I can’t change the situation I’m in so to I want to turn it into something positive and do well.”

Kagawa is almost certain to be in Japan’s World Cup squad in Brazil this summer but he accepts nothing is guaranteed while he struggles to get games at Old Trafford.

He added: “I want to grow by overcoming such a big wall in front of me.

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